DEERLAND, Fla., April 21, 2021—Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in the second of two unrelated shooting incidents that occurred yesterday.

Acting on a tip, the OCSO arrested Ronald Wayne Allen, 39, who was positively identified as the person who opened fire on a bulldozer operator in the Deerland area yesterday.

Charges include assault with intent to commit a felony, firing into a vehicle, possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon, felony criminal mischief, resisting arrest and marijuana possession.

As the bulldozer operator was working on property on Mare Creek Road yesterday, Allen approached the operator and signaled him to stop working.

After the operator shut down the bulldozer, Allen told the him to stop working or Allen would “sic his boys” on him.

The operator returned to his work and watched Allen walk into the woods.

Approximately 5 minutes later, Allen returned from the woods with a shotgun and fired three rounds at the operator. The operator was unharmed as buckshot hit the bulldozer. 

Allen fled the scene on foot.

Sheriff deputies recovered shell casings and identified at least 15 buckshot-type marks on the bulldozer. Estimated damage to the new machine was $10,000-$15,000.

A deputy saw a male who matched Allen’s description in the area of the Dollar General on State Road 393.

As he made contact, Allen tossed a baggy of marijuana and ran. An exhaustive search did not locate Allen.

This morning, a citizen alerted deputies to Allen’s possible location at a residence on Fawn Lake Road.

Allen was located there and arrested.

Deputies also found a weapon and ballistic evidence consistent with that found at the scene of the incident.

Allen is being held in the Okaloosa County Jail without bond.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office news release